Maha Bodhi Phaya in Old Bagan is modelled after the famous Maha Bodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, which commemorates the spot where the Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was built by King Htilominlo in 1215 AD and consists of a high pyramidal tower on a square base. Both the and upper storey house a Buddha image. A total of 465 Buddha images in different postures were placed in the niches all over the surface of the entire pyramidal tower and its base.

At the back of the tower and connected to it, is a small hall with an arched door on either side, that gives a access to a corridor that runs from one door to the other.

At the centre, the corridor ceiling has a large round opening, where once a bodhi tree (fig.) grew straight through the hole in the roof, that was specially created for this purpose.